Beginning to fit forward fuse plywood top. Strapping tape being used to keep fuse sides in position.

One more. Still need to clean up excess epoxy....

Looking good.  Are you going to make skies or just snow shovels for your gear?    It still is cold but no snow in central NC.  Nice time to be in Hawaii. Looks like you were really enjoying you trip.
BobN

Quoted from bobnafe

Looking good.  Are you going to make skies or just snow shovels for your gear?    It still is cold but no snow in central NC.  Nice time to be in Hawaii. Looks like you were really enjoying you trip.
BobN

We had a great time! Another 14 inches of snow today. May need ski's and a shovel!

Welcome back. Now my turn! Pensacola today ti Friday then Douglas AZ next Sunday.

Quoted from alex3

Welcome back. Now my turn! Pensacola today ti Friday then Douglas AZ next Sunday.

Enjoy! Sounds like a great trip!
Cockpit corners cut and glued. Front horizontal forward doublers cut from RS-12. Gluing to RS-21. Aligning everything perfectly so that the aluminum motor mounts would be flush seemed like a problem. I decided to use them as a guide. First I clamped them to a couple straight edges. Then they were used as alignment guide and clamped to doublers to keep everything true!

One more

looking good Brixx, are you installing a step to mount the beast?

monte

Quoted from texasbuzzard

looking good Brixx, are you installing a step to mount the beast?

monte

Thank you! Yes I will be adding the step very soon! The factory fiberglass step seems a little shallow. I plan on mounting it in a test stand first!

To practice getting in your MiniMAX, you might want to brush up on the pirouettes you learned in ballet class!  

Here's how one search result summed up a pirouette .... "The pirouette, a spin around on one leg, is one of the most difficult of all dance steps"......and they didn't even mention the difficult move necessary to get in a MiniMAX.

Lynn  

Brixx, AZ got pushed back. Now they're sending me to the wilds of long island. Anyway since my next step (at some point) will be doing the plywood on the fuselage, and you just did that, is 2 full sheets of 1/8 ply enough or should I order more?
thanks,
Alex

Quoted from alex3

Brixx, AZ got pushed back. Now they're sending me to the wilds of long island. Anyway since my next step (at some point) will be doing the plywood on the fuselage, and you just did that, is 2 full sheets of 1/8 ply enough or should I order more?
thanks,
Alex

I believe 2 sheets will do it, let me take some measurements tomorrow. I ordered the kit. But I doubt there was more than that in there

Moving forward. Seat area completed. Pretty straight forward. Fitting the aluminum firewall engine mounts was very straight forward also. Decided to drill out the aluminum mounts. Then secure them to vertical braces. Using a drill jig I then drilled from the inside out using 3/16 drill bit since the inside surface is 90 degrees to firewall. Then I stepped up the 3/16 to the next dimension (maybe 5/16? using step drill. Followed by standard drill and drill jig. (BTW great item. Don't know what I would do without it!) finally counter sunk fuse from outside using 1 inch spade bit. Measure dept carefully here. A little epoxy in holes and glued in RS-601 anti compression spacers. Then varnish forward section and bolted it all together.

Added and glued on top deck behind seat, cut and fit forward section. I stapled forward deck on for now. Won't glue just yet. Want to keep it removable for access at this time. A little hint. I found when drilling recess for bolts in forward fuse. I needed to increase dept a bit after compression spacers in place. I cut off pilot drill part of spade  drill and was able to "fine tune" the dept without marring up spacer. Will add pics to explain better tomorrow!

Let's add 4.2 pounds to the loss side total 67.8. ... BTW taken with my new selfie stick👍

WOW you are going great guns on both projects. Hope all goes well with both of them.

Great progress!!

Thanks Aeronut and Ricardo! After building the wings. The fuse is a piece of cake........so far lol I decided to stick with the stock LG. The factory welded gear added six pounds. Although it would have saved some  time and eliminated the "grass catcher" cross bar.  as we all know weight is a big (excuse the pun) issue with me
Cut and formed hinge for LG. Then brackets for main LG axel . The hinge as supplied is much wider than necessary. It could be left as is, but weight again being an issue I cut them to size. Saved 12 ounces in extra material here.  Using jig as outlined in the plans 1 1/8 holes cut at 37 degrees. All bolted together. Ready to mount on the fuse bottom

Jigged to the fuse. Angles set at 37 degrees. Drilled and bolts installed. Notice those handy binder clips keeping the axel in place.

Looking good Brian!  Glad to see you've gone for the 3 bolt bottom bracket. That adds quite a lot of strength to the gear for very little extra weight.

Are you doing the double F3 boxed-in frame at the aft end of the cockpit for rollover protection as per UK directive?  I've done it & it looks reasonably strong & stiff. I'll post pix soon: I'm re-arranging my workshop at the moment.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce, yes I plan  on doing all the UK modifications including the F3 boxed in roll over frame. I  Look forward to your pics on this. I also am seriously considering changing my wing tips and incorporating your design, although I like the drooped look, it could be a considerable weight savings! I understand the re-arranging. My basement ceiling height is a limiting factor for me. My space is also limited. The bench was build with the concept that allowed me to break it down in order to make room in my shop and allow me to work at a better height on the fuse!

Wheels and brakes fitted. These two piece rims are a bear to put together. Punctured one tube ( notice flat tire) need to come up with a mounting arrangement for the drum brakes. Any ideas?

One more

Did you assemble the rims with the tubes flat?  Or did you air them up just a bit before you put the rims together?

Usually helps avoid pinch flats to put in just enough air for the tube to take/hold shape.  That works for bicycles and motorcycles and I suspect on aircraft too since similar technology.

Quoted from bigbrixx1

Punctured one tube ( notice flat tire) need to come up with a minting arrangement for the drum brakes. Any ideas?

Be careful.  I don't like the Asuza wheels & brakes either,  PITA to change tires.

Yea I really am not liking the drum brakes. Team is going to allow me to exchange for band brakes. Also I did finally figure out that adding some air allowed one to slowly bolt the rims together! Finally check out my main axel! Darn it I drilled one hole 1/4 inch off center. Tried it free hand.....never agian. .....Going to get another axel! Here she is sitting on her legs!

This is a very nice thread.  Very inspiring.  I thank you for sharing all this with us.

Tom

Brixx it must feel good to get her on the wheels. I've got band brakes on my max and they are ok at best. They work fine with slow taxi on the tarmac but don't have much effect on higher speed runs as they get hot very fast. Keep up the great work.

Monte

Do I hear airplane noises emanating from your workshop?? Thanks for your posts; they are great.

Quoted from Tom

This is a very nice thread.  Very inspiring.  I thank you for sharing all this with us.

Tom

Thank you guys for all your support! It has been a pleasure sharing This journey with all of you. I am so pleased I chose a Minimax as my first build. The support from Dave and the entire crew at TEAM minimax has been outstanding......along with the support and advice from  all you buzzards has made this dream of mine possible!!!! In 1994 i was at Oshkosh air show. I watched minimaxes fly in the ultralight area. I wanted one ever since! .....

And yes Aeronut..it is quite possible you hear my making airplane noises in my basement!!!!!  .......but I also have to say when the wind blowing down from Maine  I believe I hear your airplane noises also....